Bury v Hutton

Bury headed to Hutton, on Saturday, to face a team who moved up a league with them in the restructuring this season, but who have been having very different fortunes. The visitors, who were still seeking their first win, were looking to build on improving performances in recent weeks at a venue that has not proven favourable in the last few seasons.
Hutton were to look strong on the ball in the opening exchanges, but a determined Bury side led by captain Alan Dobson, were to hold strong in defence and with dogged determination were able to stop the home side from any early points. Some outstanding tackling from backs George Kelly, Chris Potts, Alex English and Dom Bennett allowed the back row forwards Israr Asif, Rob Freeman and hooker Jonny Allen to scavenge ball and win turnovers for the visitors.
The home side were to persist and eventually broke the deadlock with a very well worked centre switch which wrong footed Chris Packet and allowed for a clear run under the posts. The conversion was easily converted.
The game continued in a similar vein, as the home side applied pressure and Bury did their best to repel and play expansive rugby when possible. Some tenacious tacking from both sides made for a real spectacle and some good running rugby was on show for all to see.
Bury were to open their account late in the first half through the boot of Tom Smith, who was able to kick the ball with ease through the posts, following some great work by number eight Ed Watkins at the breakdown and the home side being deemed to have not released the ball following a hefty tackle from powerhouse second rows James Swinburn and Mark Blain.
At half time, the home side held a convincing lead of 21-3, but Bury still felt that they could get something from the game as there had been some great patches of play that had narrowly failed to come to fruition in terms of points.
Hutton had other ideas and quickly scored a couple of tries through some well worked moves through their back line. Even the work of 'Man of the Match', Craig 'Scally Bro' Boardman, could not stop the onslaught!
Again the 'never say die' attitude of the young Bury team was to become apparent and were lesser teams may have surrendered The Rams continued to try to play in the style that has been instilled in them by coach Sam Kelly. Some strong running by full-back Alex English was to be rewarded following a high tackle from the Hutton winger and from the resulting penalty, a quick thinking Jonny Allen was hugely unfortunate to not score Bury's opening try of the game, have been bundled into touch by three of the home side defence as he reached out to place the ball.
From the resulting line out, a Bury Maul powered by Lee Slingsby and the Bury pack was able to drive into the heart of the home side defence before Tom Smith was able to feed the ball accurately to brother Will and with a neat inside ball send Chris Potts in for a well-deserved Bury try. The conversion, directly under the posts, was routinely placed over the posts by Tom Smith to draw the final score of the game to 40-10 to Hutton.
Although the final score was disappointing; the effort, attitude and performance of the Bury side was pleasing and this developing side are showing promise for the future in what is proving to be a difficult league.
Bury will now face high flying Littleborough at Radcliffe Road next Saturday 24th October in what will be another great challenge.